Kids@Playhttp://kidsatplaysummit.com
Kids@Play Summit - Living in Digital TimesSat, 03 Dec 2016 11:55:40 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.5.2Creating a safer driving experience for the next generation By Bryson Gardner, co-founder and CEO of Pearlhttp://kidsatplaysummit.com/2016/12/01/creating-a-safer-driving-experience-for-the-next-generation-by-bryson-gardner-co-founder-and-ceo-of-pearl/
http://kidsatplaysummit.com/2016/12/01/creating-a-safer-driving-experience-for-the-next-generation-by-bryson-gardner-co-founder-and-ceo-of-pearl/#respondThu, 01 Dec 2016 02:47:28 +0000http://kidsatplaysummit.com/2016/12/01/creating-a-safer-driving-experience-for-the-next-generation-by-bryson-gardner-co-founder-and-ceo-of-pearl/As a parent, the promise of autonomous vehicles has tremendous appeal because it ultimately means our roads will be safer. Unfortunately, we’re going to have to wait a while. Recent reports project only 10% of the 1.8 billion cars in the world in 2030 will be autonomous. That leaves 90% of the cars without autonomous features — more than 1.6B in total — 15 years from now.

Full autonomy aside, tech in cars is quickly left behind with the rapid pace of new technology. This is due to the industry’s 6-7 year design cycle, initial positioning of new technology in higher-end cars and how relatively few new cars are produced and bought every year. For example, new features, from airbags to antilock brakes, took 30-40 years to reach widespread adoption.

Should we really be waiting this long for important safety features? Why not create aftermarket products that can help every driver on the road today? Features such as the backup camera, blind spot warning and forward collision warning have clear benefits that are just too important to limit to new cars. Cars on the road today can and should be made better.

At Pearl, we’re on a mission to bring these important safety features directly to the consumer, starting with a backup camera. Pearl RearVision is unlike anything on the market today. It’s the only wireless backup camera and alert system that installs in minutes, provides obstacle alerts, uses your iPhone or Android as your rearview screen and updates automatically to ensure you always have the latest technology.

For me personally, what has really fueled my passion working in this space are my twin 6-year old boys, Jackson and Wyatt. In ten years they will start driving — likely with the hand-me-down family car we’ll buy in the next couple of years — and while that car will certainly be safer than the car you and I grew up with, it will be far from the promise of the autonomous future.

What’s really hard to comprehend is that the technology that exists even today won’t be in that car in ten years. Putting that time scale into perspective: ten years ago the iPhone didn’t exist. The car my kids will drive in ten years, along with the vast majority of cars on the road, won’t have technology that’s available today. For me as a father that’s completely broken and not acceptable. At Pearl, we’re on a mission to have a substantial impact on the future of automotive by providing important safety features through the aftermarket.

]]>http://kidsatplaysummit.com/2016/12/01/creating-a-safer-driving-experience-for-the-next-generation-by-bryson-gardner-co-founder-and-ceo-of-pearl/feed/0Designing Tech That Engages Girls (and Boys) — Hint: It’s Not About Pink!http://kidsatplaysummit.com/2016/12/01/designing-tech-that-engages-girls-and-boys%e2%80%8a-%e2%80%8ahint-its-not-about-pink/
http://kidsatplaysummit.com/2016/12/01/designing-tech-that-engages-girls-and-boys%e2%80%8a-%e2%80%8ahint-its-not-about-pink/#respondThu, 01 Dec 2016 02:27:52 +0000http://kidsatplaysummit.com/2016/12/01/designing-tech-that-engages-girls-and-boys%e2%80%8a-%e2%80%8ahint-its-not-about-pink/You don’t need to spend much time in a computer science department or a technology company to realize that there’s a gender imbalance. Women are 18% of CS majors, and that has been declining over the last 30 years. These trends are especially concerning because technology is only going to become more prevalent.

Why the gender gap in computer science exists

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, girls and boys are equally interested in STEM in elementary school. However, by 8th grade boys are twice as likely to be interested in STEM than girls are. This discrepancy doesn’t have to do with ability — there are no differences in standardized math performance from elementary school through college.

Societal perceptions tend to steer men and women in different career directions. When second graders were asked to draw a computer scientist, most of them drew a man in a white lab coat and glasses. Studies show that both women and men perceive men as being more naturally inclined towards the field. Women express less confidence and rate their ability as lower than men even when actual achievement levels are similar.

Introducing girls to technology early

Girl Scout Research Institute shows that early encouragement is a driving factor for girls to take computer science classes — more than confidence or perceptions of ability. 75% of girls surveyed said that having a family member in the computing field was a reason for taking programming courses.

At Wonder Workshop, our goal is to make computer programming fun for children, both boys and girls, as young as 5. We want to enable children to become creators of technology at a young age so they can develop a love for computing and desire to learn more throughout their lives.

Knowing that girls tend to lose interest in STEM around middle school, it was especially important for us to make sure the product was engaging for girls. We did extensive user testing with children of both genders, assessing relative engagement levels with each iteration of our product design. The robots have friendly dispositions and bright, optimistic colors.

The eye of the robots show emotions and feelings, which help children relate to them as friends or pets. One design decision we made as a result of user testing with girls was to hide the wheels on the robot. Girls overwhelmingly associated previous versions of the robots as being a “boy’s toy” because it had wheels. But once we hid the wheels, they saw the robot as more of a relatable creature or friend.

As we develop curriculum to introduce computational thinking, we focus on storytelling, music, and games. “Pinking” of the curriculum or creating toys that appeal to girls (and not boys) only emphasizes the difference in gender and further isolates girls. We believe that creating hands-on learning tools that are equally appealing to both boys and girls is the best way to introduce girls to computer science.

What makes AR so unique is how it blurs the boundaries between the digital and physical worlds. The digital world is overlaid on the physical world and by doing so you create rich layered experiences.

When you read books to children, their creative minds imagine their bedroom transforming into the battlefields of Narnia or the castle of a princess. Children decorate their rooms with their favorite stories or characters to recreate the worlds they read about and watch. However, this lacks the rich experience of actually being part of that story. With AR, their own bedrooms become the setting for the story to unfold; they become one with the narrative. Kids absolutely love this about AR. I have repeatedly seen the sheer excitement of seeing their favorite characters ‘walk around’ on their bed with the SpinTales Enchanted Duvet!

The greatest appeal of AR is that it enables immersive learning. For example, the best and quickest way to learn a language is to live amongst people who speak that language and immerse yourself in the language. AR creates an immersive learning environment for children to engage with, and by doing so they are able to understand and learn concepts better by seeing things from a different perspective. By visualizing a concept or new ideas in 3D (with a 360° view) they are able to move around it and interact with it, allowing them to quickly grasp ideas. For example, if you have an AR of a truck, kids can see around it, under it and the AR could even show the truck with all its parts in an exploded view.

AR enables children to participate in a situation and learn how to solve problems from within. Without the fear of making mistakes, this is a great way for children to learn in a safe environment while being exposed to different scenarios. For example, if you have a jungle in AR, kids can actually feel like they are walking through a real jungle, see and learn about animals, and get close to them and hear them. This definitely makes learning a lot more engaging, fun and creative.

What I love about working in this field is finding ways to transform your everyday textiles into something magical and bringing it to life through the use of technology. With the seamless integration of smart technology with home textiles, the SpinTales brand is able to create multi-dimensional storytelling enriched with educational activities and AR. This creates meaningful experiences that foster growth and creativity while bringing families together during story time. By designing immersive experiences that build on a child’s intellectual horizon, we are able to stimulate minds through experiences that are enabled by technology, but not defined by it.

]]>http://kidsatplaysummit.com/2016/11/30/stimulating-your-childs-mind-with-immersive-learning-experiences-by-mili-john-tharakan-director-of-technology-tilt/feed/0The world has changed, the clothing industry has not. Until now!http://kidsatplaysummit.com/2016/11/30/the-world-has-changed-the-clothing-industry-has-not-until-now/
http://kidsatplaysummit.com/2016/11/30/the-world-has-changed-the-clothing-industry-has-not-until-now/#respondWed, 30 Nov 2016 20:54:47 +0000http://kidsatplaysummit.com/2016/11/30/the-world-has-changed-the-clothing-industry-has-not-until-now/The year was 2000 and cell phones, portable music players, laptops, cameras, as well as the cords, chargers and batteries needed to run these items were consuming my hectic life-on-the-go. Millions of other travelers, parents, outdoorsy people and tech-lovers faced the same problem – how to carry all their belongings without a backpack, briefcase, fanny pack, man-purse or tool belt.

Several days later, while my wife Laura and I were walking our dogs, I found myself in the same frustrating situation; my hands full, juggling a water bottle, poop bag, ball, keys and wallet and trying to control my very excitable dogs. I asked Laura for the hundredth time if she could carry my stuff in her purse and she had finally had enough – informing me that I had to start carrying a backpack. At this point, I knew there had to be a better way to organize and carry my belongings and gadgets.

I realized early on that there was a major disconnect between clothing designers, who primarily focus on style, and the consumers who actually wear the clothing – any woman who owns jeans with micro-pockets can attest! With the help and guidance of my wife, we set out to create fashionable, functional garments that addressed this need.

The result? SCOTTeVEST, a full line of men’s and women’s clothing that offers hidden pockets to carry whatever you need – wherever you need it. While some of our clothing features as many as 42 pockets in a single garment, we always say, “a pocket is what you make it.” We know that most people do not have 42 things to carry all the time, but having a thoughtfully-engineered pocket specifically for your everyday carry items provides a special peace of mind and helps streamline your life.

What makes SCOTTeVEST jackets, hoodies, pants, and other garments so special? It’s all in the attention to details. To address the added load of your stuff, we developed an innovative “Weight Management System” that distributes the weight of our fully-loaded garments evenly across the torso to prevent feeling weighed down or looking bulky.

Travelers fueled our growth, but we found dozens of other ways SCOTTeVEST apparel could be used to neatly and discreetly carry your stuff. Soon photographers, parents on the go, and commuters looking for an easier way to manage their daily essentials were all “SCOTTeVESTing”!

I now look forward to my gear-laden dog walks, running errands around town, and even TSA check-in. Knowing that all my personal belongings are secure, as well as easily accessible keeps my life stress-free and streamlined.

If you want to simplify the way you carry your daily necessities, or think SCOTTeVEST would be the perfect holiday gift for someone you know, see our full line of products at www.scottevest.com and use promo LIDT20 for 20% off your first order. We look forward to seeing you all at CES 2017!

]]>http://kidsatplaysummit.com/2016/11/30/the-world-has-changed-the-clothing-industry-has-not-until-now/feed/0Security: No Home Left Behind By: Dennis Peng, VP, Product Management at Oomahttp://kidsatplaysummit.com/2016/11/30/security-no-home-left-behind-by-dennis-peng-vp-product-management-at-ooma/
http://kidsatplaysummit.com/2016/11/30/security-no-home-left-behind-by-dennis-peng-vp-product-management-at-ooma/#respondWed, 30 Nov 2016 20:31:45 +0000http://kidsatplaysummit.com/2016/11/30/security-no-home-left-behind-by-dennis-peng-vp-product-management-at-ooma/According to the FBI, a burglary takes place in the United States about every 18 seconds. That’s nearly 200 per hour, and approximately 4,800 every day. In a time where we’re seeing an explosion in all things connected to the Internet, from home appliances to smart cars, it is about time for home security to get smarter.

While many consumers have added smart elements to their home such as smart lights, thermostats and smart fridges, Forrester’s 2017 Internet of Things Predictions estimates that up to 10 percent of homes will retire their traditional security systems in favor of smart home monitoring systems. New security systems come paired with smart home technology and mobile apps, allowing consumers to remotely control their system, take immediate action in the event of a break-in or water damage, and access enhanced protection from crime all at an affordable price.

Contrary to popular belief, the majority of home burglaries take place during daylight hours, and the typical burglar resides within two miles of the target home. Adding a smart home monitoring system is equivalent to having a professional security team keeping an eye on the home for all types of emergencies, around the clock, so consumers can take action right away regardless of where they are, essentially outsmarting intruders.

In addition to combating burglaries, smart home monitoring also helps with other emergencies, such as identifying water leaks quickly and before they cause severe and costly damages. New smart home monitoring services send consumers real-time alerts when water or moisture is detected, giving them the advantage to respond right away and prevent severe damage to their house. For example, if a defective washing machine or water heater leaks or if flooding begins in the basement, a smart home monitoring system that is connected to a smart home phone system will immediately alert homeowners via text message or phone call so they can tackle the problem and avoid further damage.

There are plenty of options for home monitoring systems with many more brands about to release different types of solutions. However, most are pricey and require long-term contracts in addition to professional installation and a high cost of equipment. Additionally, renters are often times left without any safeguards as landlords rarely want to pay for a full protection service for each of their tenants. Consumers are increasingly looking for a do-it-yourself home monitoring system that can easily be taken to a new home and doesn’t require a monthly contract nor expensive landline connection to make it work. New solutions becoming available in early 2017 are affordable and provide users with peace of mind, whether they rent or own a home.

Be sure to check out some of the new do-it-yourself home monitoring tools at CES 2017 that protect homeowners and renters without the hassle and high costs of traditional systems.

]]>http://kidsatplaysummit.com/2016/11/30/security-no-home-left-behind-by-dennis-peng-vp-product-management-at-ooma/feed/0It all originated in the companyhttp://kidsatplaysummit.com/2016/11/30/it-all-originated-in-the-company/
http://kidsatplaysummit.com/2016/11/30/it-all-originated-in-the-company/#respondWed, 30 Nov 2016 20:24:01 +0000http://kidsatplaysummit.com/2016/11/30/it-all-originated-in-the-company/All originated in the company

Why did we choose to combine child education and modern AR technology?

The development of the Internet and mobile apps had a big impact on our traditional way of learning. We started to wonder if there was a way to combine both areas and even encourage learning: the efficiency of traditional learning methods with the joys of digital technology.

We found this combination in our AR technology in the child educational field. We are not seeking to reject traditional learning. Instead, we enhance it through technology, and we take it a step further to make children’s dreams come true.

Why did we develop a completely new AR device with a round screen?

Children are very smart and are able to intuitively use smartphones and tablets without any previous teaching. Children are able to use modern devices and their applications from a very young age. When I saw my son playing with my smartphone I realized that a series of small problems would occur, such as a finger covering the lens, or dropping the device because of its weight. I decided to develop a device that would be more adapted to children’s hands and their behavior.

Nowadays, people are used to the fast speed of change in our society and get impatient when things are happening in a slower way. But in order to do things in a correct and sustainable way, we need to slow down to an appropriate pace of progress. We need to stay in touch with our values and our sentiments. We need to keep the artisan’s culture of handling our products with care, of doing things meticulously.

Text by Neo Xiong.

]]>http://kidsatplaysummit.com/2016/11/30/it-all-originated-in-the-company/feed/0Say Hello to CogniToys: The Future of Educational Playhttp://kidsatplaysummit.com/2016/11/30/say-hello-to-cognitoys-the-future-of-educational-play/
http://kidsatplaysummit.com/2016/11/30/say-hello-to-cognitoys-the-future-of-educational-play/#respondWed, 30 Nov 2016 20:13:09 +0000http://kidsatplaysummit.com/2016/11/30/say-hello-to-cognitoys-the-future-of-educational-play/Growing up, we all had one toy we could play with for hours. Together, we’d jump from chair to chair, avoiding hot lava before chatting over afternoon “tea.” Late at night, we’d stay up past our bedtime, talking about our days. While talking toys aren’t new, they haven’t been able to keep up with the kinds of conversations kids wanted to have—until now.

While tech toys are finally catching up, some people worry (with good reason) that more technology equals more screen time for kids. That’s whyElemental Path created theCogniToys Dino. CogniToys are educational, Wi-Fi enabled smart toys that get smarter over time—all without the need for a screen.

According to theAmerican Academy of Pediatrics, play stimulates imagination and helps develop physical, cognitive, and emotional strength. Whether the Dino is answering a child’s question, telling a story, or playing a game, everyactivity strikes a balance between learning and play. That said, the Dino’s abilities go well beyond playing educational games, or even leading guided meditations.

Unlike other smart devices out there, Dinos don’t just respond, they respond intelligently. If a child says that they are scared, the Dino consoles the child and encourages them to speak to an adult they trust. Or, if a child tells the Dino they’re sad, the toy may suggest meditation or listening to a funny joke. CogniToys try to personalize as many interactions as possible, and use information like a child’s first name, favorite food or animal, etc. to customize learning and future conversations.

Just like kids, CogniToys learn and grow over time. The Elemental Path content team writes answers for thousands of questions like “why is the sky blue?” and “how far away is the moon?” to ensure kid-friendliness. If the Dino ever misses a question, we work to add the answer in a future content update. To receive content updates, parents must simply power their Dino on, and connect it to Wi-Fi using the CogniToys App. In addition to adding answers, the Dino’s regular content updates include new activities, speech recognition improvements and bug fixes.

CogniToys are a best friend and study buddy—all in one. So, whether your child prefers jokes, games or stories, the Dino has something for everyone, allowing it to provide the kind of personalized play experience every kid deserves.

]]>http://kidsatplaysummit.com/2016/11/30/say-hello-to-cognitoys-the-future-of-educational-play/feed/0Struggle Is Realhttp://kidsatplaysummit.com/2016/11/30/struggle-is-real/
http://kidsatplaysummit.com/2016/11/30/struggle-is-real/#respondWed, 30 Nov 2016 20:07:07 +0000http://kidsatplaysummit.com/2016/11/30/struggle-is-real/Parents have always played catch-up to their children’s technology use. As a parent of four sons ages 13-21, I feel this struggle more than ever. The iPhone was brand new technology when my oldest son entered seventh grade, but by the time my youngest got to middle school, most of his friends had smart phones. Our family rules became obsolete within seven years. We had to get creative in a world where managing screen time is not typically an easy task.

The Struggle Is Real

This year, from his high school Cell Phone Bill of Rights, my child learned “phones and other technology are the greatest distraction to academic focus ever invented and will be treated as such.”

But on his Chromebook check-out forms, we learned the school district is “excited to bring innovation into the classroom.”

As our children face these conflicting messages, I’ve watched huddled groups of parents whisper, “What are you doing about the Chromebooks?”

We Use Circle

When other parents ask us how we manage devices and screen time, I tell them that we have Circle.

Circle is a device that pairs wirelessly with your home Wi-Fi and allows you to manage every device on your network. Using the Circle app, families can create unique profiles for each family member.

We use Circle to set consistent time limits for YouTube, Netflix and online games to remind our kids to prioritize school work. Because sleep is important, we set a Bedtime so the Wi-Fi turns off on every one of their devices. They still choose when to go to sleep, but they have a fighting chance with that early alarm.

On the weekends, I sometimes Pause the Internet (which is easy with Circle) so that we can reconnect and the kids can rediscover offline activities they love.

It’s Made an Impact

My eighth grader recently confessed that it was “actually good” that he had a Time Limit. Circle helps me encourage healthy tech habits, and helps my kids learn to balance screen time and offline time. When the “Looks like you’ve hit your Time Limit” message appears, my kids know I care about them.

-Jelani Memory, Founder, Circle Media Inc.

]]>http://kidsatplaysummit.com/2016/11/30/struggle-is-real/feed/05 Hot Tech Gifts that are Cool and Affordable by Maria Baileyhttp://kidsatplaysummit.com/2016/11/30/5-hot-tech-gifts-that-are-cool-and-affordable-by-maria-bailey/
http://kidsatplaysummit.com/2016/11/30/5-hot-tech-gifts-that-are-cool-and-affordable-by-maria-bailey/#respondWed, 30 Nov 2016 19:32:06 +0000http://kidsatplaysummit.com/2016/11/30/5-hot-tech-gifts-that-are-cool-and-affordable-by-maria-bailey/It’s the holiday season again. Time to search for the perfect present and demonstrate your creativity in gift giving. We all have that person in our lives who is difficult to buy for, from the guy who has everything to the teenager who wants nothing, or at least nothing they will tell you. This list of the hottest new, affordable tech gifts will put the happy in everyone’s holiday!

HP Sprocket: This new pocket-sized portable printer from HP is guaranteed to be this year’s must-have gift just as the Soda Stream and Snuggie were a few holidays ago. Selfie-obsessed teenagers will really love the 2 x 3 photo booth-like pictures that are produced by the Sprocket. Sprocket’s sticky-backed photo paper makes it easy to display customized images on walls, lockers or in scrapbooks. The Sprocket case comes in two cool colors and requires no ink. This is the perfect gift for travelers, teens or party-goers at only $129.99. Available on Amazon.com.

The HP 15 Series Notebook: Whether he’s a gamer or she’s a student who loves music videos, you will be a hero for gifting this powerful laptop. The HP Notebook comes with Windows 10 Home, high-definition display, AMD Radeon R5 graphics, 2TB hard drive storage, HP TrueVision HD Camera, DTS Studio sound and much more. Best of all, HP has partnered with QVC to offer two exclusive colors; minty green and soft lilac and will feature this laptop at the lowest price of the season on Saturday, November 26th. Save money and time by visiting QVC.com to get this colorful gift with a lot of power.

Amazon Echo Voice Control Assistant and Speaker: Who doesn’t want a personal assistant? Whether it’s used for getting the latest sports scores or turning on an alarm for baking times, Alexa, a cloud based voice system, is perfect for anyone on your list. It has 360-omnidirectional speakers and can sit anywhere conveniently. Find it on QVC.com!

HP Instant Ink: Give the gift of time and money all year long with HP Instant Ink, the ink subscription program that delivers ink right to the front door. That special person on your list will never have to worry about running out of ink again. For as low as $36 or $2.99 a month, you can give a year’s worth of HP Instant Ink. Ink cartridge reorders are based on number of prints, so now there’s no worry about how many holiday pictures you print or when. HP offers affordable Instant Ink-friendly printers starting at $69 at most major retailers. Perfect for college students, busy moms, scrapbookers and small business owners, to name a few.

Code-a-Pillar™ by Fisher-Price: For the youngest tech enthusiast on your list, the Code-a-Pillar inspires little learners to be big thinkers by encouraging preschoolers to arrange (and rearrange) the easy-to-connect segments in endless combinations, sending the techno-insect on its way. There are countless ways to arrange the segments which includes one sound segment, three straights, two right turns and two left turns to send the learning fun in endless directions. At less than $50 on www.fisherprice.com, this is a great gift for kids, but don’t be surprised if parents sneak a try as well.

About the author:

Maria Bailey is the host of Mom Talk Radio, a nationally syndicated talk radio show for parents, and a contributor on multiple websites, including MediaPost.com. In her spare time, Maria trains for her next marathon (26 and counting) and spends time with her family and beloved English Bulldogs.

Disclosure:

Maria has partnerships with both HP and QVC and created this article as part of a marketing program. All opinions are her own. QVC is a service mark of ER Marks, Inc. The QVC.com domain name is registered to QVC, Inc.

]]>http://kidsatplaysummit.com/2016/11/30/5-hot-tech-gifts-that-are-cool-and-affordable-by-maria-bailey/feed/0Robin RaskinFounder, Living in Digital Timeshttp://kidsatplaysummit.com/2016/09/29/robin-raskinfounder-living-in-digital-times/
http://kidsatplaysummit.com/2016/09/29/robin-raskinfounder-living-in-digital-times/#respondThu, 29 Sep 2016 19:26:48 +0000http://kidsatplaysummit.com/?p=5227Robin Raskin has spent the past 30 years exploring what it means to be living in digital times. An author, editor, magazine publisher, blogger, TV and radio personality, and consultant, Raskin says she’s never met a media she doesn’t like and is happiest when she’s promoting how kids, seniors and women interact with technology. In 2007, Raskin became the co-founder of The Sandbox Summit : A Playdate with Technology, an event created in partnership with the Consumer Electronics Association (CES). That show has grown to encompass six different technology conferences and showcases (and two awards shows) (livingindigtaltimes.com), that all take place at the January CES in Las Vegas.
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